India's textile and apparel exports grew 17.51% year on year in September 2026 to about US$3.081 billion, according to quick estimates from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry analysed by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI). In rupee terms, the increase was 27.02%.
September at a glance
- Textiles (yarn, fabrics, made-ups and related items): up 19.87%.
- Apparel (ready-made garments): up 13.68%, a turnaround after months of decline.
- Total: about US$3.08 billion, up 17.51%.
First half of the year: textiles up, garments down
For April to September 2026, combined exports reached about US$18.16 billion, up 2.38%. The split is uneven:
- Textiles grew 9.05%, to about US$10.9 billion.
- Apparel fell 6.19%, to about US$7.3 billion.
- Within textiles, cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom rose about 8.9%, and man-made fibre yarn, fabrics and made-ups rose about 4.2%, according to a report based on the same data.
In rupee terms, first-half exports were up 12.80%, helped by the weaker rupee. Raw cotton imports also rose sharply, by about 81% in September, in line with the record import season reported by the Cotton Association of India.
What the numbers mean for Gujarat
The September jump in both fabrics and garments is a positive sign for Gujarat's two textile centres. Ahmedabad's cotton yarn and fabric mills sit in the strongest-growing category, while Surat's man-made fibre weavers and processors benefit from steadier fabric exports.
One strong month does not yet make a trend. Garment exports are still below last year for the half, and domestic demand remains weak: Surat weavers say yarn prices are up 40–45% since June and some may start their Diwali break early. Read our August export report for comparison.